Annotations for Places: United States--texas--clint

President Clinton say some recent polls is rapidly losing popularity with the American public. The president, for his part, says it's just that people don't understand his economic plan. Well, here at Latino USA, we wondered how US Latinos, who in November voted overwhelmingly for candidate Clinton, feel about the President's performance so far. Our first informal sampling comes from the small border community of Clint, Texas, just outside El Paso.

I'm Maria Martin. Clint Texas is a small working-class border community, quiet on a warm Saturday afternoon. Those people I spoke with fell into two categories. One, the politically apathetic, and two, those who felt that any judgment on the President is premature.

It's going to take time. It can be done in one day.

To me, it's all the same. I'm just waiting to see what kind of taxes he brings up because I am opening up my own business.

Yeah, I'm happy. We need a change. He's doing a good job.

Well, he's doing okay in some things and the other things he's not because well, he needs people to back him up.

He can't do everything the way it was. I tell you one thing, he was messed up. Our nation was pretty messed up. How can he fix in less than a year. He can't.

[Background--Sounds--Nature] I'm Emilio San Pedro in Wynwood, a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood just north of downtown Miami, Florida. Here, reaction to President Clinton's performance was mixed.

I don't know if it's too early in the year to feel the effects, but up to now I haven't felt any and I haven't seen that my community has felt anything that he's promised. I don't think he's made any changes, and we haven't felt any in the Hispanic community.

[Translation--Dub--English] Well, I think he's doing all right because it's only his first months in office.

[Translation--Dub--English] Well, I'll tell you with all my heart. I voted for Clinton because I hoped for a change, but the truth is I see things worse every day.

[Translation--Dub--English] He's going to have to raise taxes. I voted for Bush. Don't blame me.

People here in suburban Monterey Park, in Eastern LA County, are divided over the issue of President Clinton's performance on the job, with most willing to give him more time. Some felt he needed more on-the-job experience.

I think he's doing well. Everyone's saying that he's doing bad, but I think he's going to go through with it. He's going to take care of everything and improve it. They'll see, everyone's going to see how he's going to do good.

I think he's doing in between. I'm not really satisfied with everything he's doing, but he's our president, so we have to pull for him, stay together with him.

Since I saw him that he was elected, I like him because he is sincere and he tells you, he says what he thinks, and it's right for the people.

[Spanish speaking--sounds--dubbing] But with the country the way it is, it's impossible for things to get fixed in a moment. Really. It's too soon to say whether he's a good or a bad president.

In Monterey Park, reporting for Latino USA, this is Alberto Aguilar.